Fixturing system for woodworking

Abstract

A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward, the device comprising: a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore, and an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion; wherein the bore has a nominal cross-sectional area for receiving a threaded fastener, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of about 10 times the cross-sectional area of the bore; and wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and further has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward across the pair of undercut sections of the T-slot, the device comprising:
 a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore in the outer portion, and an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion;   wherein the bore has a nominal cross-sectional area for receiving a threaded fastener, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of at least about 10 times the nominal cross-sectional area of the bore; and   wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.   
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut, and the combined surface area is the sum of areas projected from the clamping surfaces onto a plane of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . A device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic. 
     
     
         4 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 5 degrees and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 10 degrees and 25 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 15 degrees and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sockets extending vertically in the T-nut. 
     
     
         10 . A device as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising anti-rotation pins oriented in the sockets. 
     
     
         11 . A device for use with a wood-based structural element having an outer surface and inner surfaces defining a T-slot, wherein the T-slot has a central section that is open at the outer surface, and further has a pair of undercut sections projecting from opposite sides of the central section, and the inner surfaces of the structural element include a pair of inner surfaces facing inward across the pair of undercut sections of the T-slot, the device comprising:
 a T-nut having an outer portion receivable in the central section of the T-slot, a screw-threaded bore in the outer portion, an inner portion with a pair of clamping surfaces projecting from opposite sides of the outer portion, and a plurality of sockets extending vertically through the T-nut;   wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 5 degrees and 30 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the clamping surfaces on the T-nut have a combined surface area of at least about 10 times the nominal cross-sectional area of the bore. 
     
     
         13 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 10 degrees and 25 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination between 15 degrees and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the structural element is planar, and the clamping surfaces on the T-nut are planar and inclined so as to project inward relative to the outer portion of the T-nut at angles of inclination equal or substantially equal to 18 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is formed predominantly of plastic. 
     
     
         19 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the T-nut is configured for use with a wood-based structural element.